Whether you are looking for full-time employment or an internship, it would be helpful for you to create a master resume. As you are applying to several different positions, you should make sure you are tailoring your resume and not using the same one for every position. This is where a master resume will be extremely helpful! A master resume is a document which houses all of your experiences, skills, jobs, and education. You should not submit it as part of an application however it is to be used as a reference and a guide to assist you with creating the tailored version of your resume to submit as part of your application. As you begin drafting your master resume, please take a look at these 4 steps in preparing a master resume.
- Dedicate time
As you begin to draft your master resume, it would be extremely helpful to set some time aside to complete the task. This can be very time consuming and tedious as you begin to write about all of your experiences.
- Reflect
Think about all of your previous experiences and the skills you used. Reflecting is vital as it will help you obtain a scope of your experiences and skills.
- Talk about your experiences
While reflecting, you may want to start jotting down your experiences in reverse chronological order. Make sure to include the name of the organization, your role/title, the dates, and the location. You will then create accomplishment statements (bullet points) which will address everything you did throughout the experience and all of the skills you used.
- Keep an open mind
Throughout this process remember that you are not focusing on any particular skills and that this document does not have a page limit. I always suggest to put as much information in it as you can, as it would make it easier for you to capture the full scope of your experiences.
Once you have completed your master resume, you can use it to copy and paste information into a tailored resume for a specific position. If you feel you need assistance with your master resume or would like to have it reviewed, please feel free to attend Drop-In Career Advising to have an advisor review it and provide feedback.
